U.S. patent application number 12/097536 was filed with the patent office on 2010-09-30 for displaceable head restraint.
Invention is credited to Andreas Schmitz.
Application Number | 20100244510 12/097536 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37896686 |
Filed Date | 2010-09-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100244510 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Schmitz; Andreas |
September 30, 2010 |
DISPLACEABLE HEAD RESTRAINT
Abstract
A displaceable head restraint for a seat has a padded portion
that is displaceable relative to a base part of the head restraint
from a nominal position to a safety position using a driving
mechanism and returnable to the nominal position using a restoring
device. The restoring device includes a handle releasably connected
to a receiver plate, and the receiver plate is positioned on a
fixed portion of the base part. A cable having one end attached to
the handle and an opposed end connected to a rotatable member is
disposed between the padded portion and the base part. Application
of a force on the handle that is opposed to a direction of
displacement of the padded portion between the nominal position and
the safety position rotates the rotatable member to return the
padded portion to the nominal position.
Inventors: |
Schmitz; Andreas;
(Burscheid, DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BUTZEL LONG;IP DOCKETING DEPT
350 SOUTH MAIN STREET, SUITE 300
ANN ARBOR
MI
48104
US
|
Family ID: |
37896686 |
Appl. No.: |
12/097536 |
Filed: |
December 21, 2006 |
PCT Filed: |
December 21, 2006 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP2006/012363 |
371 Date: |
June 15, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
297/216.12 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60N 2/865 20180201;
B60N 2/888 20180201 |
Class at
Publication: |
297/216.12 |
International
Class: |
B60N 2/427 20060101
B60N002/427 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jan 6, 2006 |
DE |
10 2006 001 143.0 |
Claims
1-10. (canceled)
11. A head restraint for use in a seat, the head restraint having a
padded portion that is displaceable relative to a base part of the
head restraint from a nominal position to a safety position using a
driving mechanism and returnable to the nominal position using a
restoring device, the head restraint comprising: a handle
releasably connected to a receiver plate, wherein the receiver
plate is positioned on a fixed portion of the base part; and a
cable having one end attached to the handle and an opposed end
connected to a rotatable member disposed between the padded portion
and the base part, wherein application of a force on the handle
that is opposed to a direction of displacement of the padded
portion between the nominal position and the safety position,
rotates the rotatable member to return the padded portion to the
nominal position.
12. The head restraint as set forth in claim 11, wherein the
rotatable member has a rotational axis parallel to a direction of
displacement of the padded portion, and the rotatable member
includes a guide slot that is inclined relative to a direction of
displacement of the displacement force during its rotation in a
first rotational direction.
13. The head restraint as set forth in claim 12, wherein the
restoring device rotates the rotatable member in an opposed
rotational direction to the first rotational direction.
14. The head restraint as set forth in claim 13 wherein the force
of the restoring device on the rotatable member is tangential to an
outer surface of the rotatable member.
15. The head restraint as set forth in claim 11, wherein the cable
is a Bowden cable.
16. The head restraint as set forth in claim 11 wherein the handle
is fixedly connected to the receiver plate.
17. The head restraint as set forth in claim 11 wherein the handle
is positioned on a lower surface of the base part and is displaced
in a direction transverse to the direction of movement of the
padded portion to actuate the restoring device.
18. The head restraint as set forth in claim 11, wherein the force
is a restoring torque applied along the rotational axis of the
rotational member.
19. A head restraint for a vehicle having a padded portion that is
displaceable relative to a base part of the head restraint between
a nominal position and a safety position, the head restraint
comprising: a driving mechanism having a first fixed member
connected to the base part, a second displaceable member attached
to the padded portion and displaceable with respect to the first
fixed member between the nominal position and the safety position,
and a third rotatable member rotatably mounted between the first
fixed member and the second displaceable member, and rotation of
the third rotatable member displaces the second displaceable member
between the nominal position and the safety position; and a
restoring device having a handle releasably connected to a receiver
plate positioned on the first fixed member and a cable having one
end attached to the handle and an opposed end connected to the
third rotatable member, wherein application of a force on the
handle, that is opposed to a direction of displacement of the
second displaceable member between the nominal position and the
safety position, returns the padded portion to the nominal
position.
20. The head restraint as set forth in claim 19, wherein the third
rotatable member has a rotational axis parallel to a direction of
displacement of the second displacement member, and the third
rotatable member includes a guide slot that is inclined relative to
a direction of the displacement force during its rotation in a
first rotational direction.
21. The head restraint as set forth in claim 20, wherein the
restoring device rotates the third rotatable member in an opposed
rotational direction to the first rotational direction.
22. The head restraint as set forth in claim 20 wherein the force
of the restoring device on the third rotatable member is tangential
to an outer surface of the third rotatable member.
23. The head restraint as set forth in claim 19, wherein the cable
is a Bowden cable.
24. The head restraint as set forth in claim 19 wherein the handle
is removeably connected to the receiver plate.
25. The head restraint as set forth in claim 19 wherein the handle
is positioned on a lower surface of the first fixed member and is
displaced in a direction transverse to the direction of movement of
the second displaceable member to rotate the third rotatable
member.
26. The head restraint as set forth in claim 19, wherein the force
is a restoring torque applied along a rotational axis of the third
rotational member.
27. A head restraint for a vehicle having a padded portion that is
displaceable relative to a base part of the head restraint between
a nominal position and a safety position comprising: a driving
mechanism having a first fixed member connected to the base part, a
second displaceable member attached to the padded portion and
displaceable with respect to the first fixed member between the
nominal position and the safety position, and a third rotatable
member rotatably mounted between the first fixed member and the
second displaceable member, and rotation of the third rotatable
member displaces the second displaceable member between the nominal
position and the safety position; a restoring device having a
swivel lever connected to a rear surface of the first fixed member,
wherein the swivel lever includes a radially extending arm and a
pin projecting perpendicular to the arm and the pin cooperatively
engages the third rotatable member to restrict rotation of the
third rotatable member; and a torque transmitting device for
applying a restoring torque on the swivel lever along an axis of
rotation of the third rotatable member to displace the second
displaceable member between the nominal position and the safety
position and return is the padded portion to the nominal
position.
28. The head restraint as set forth in claim 27, wherein the swivel
lever rotates the third rotatable member in a direction opposite to
the displaceable rotational direction.
29. The head restraint as set forth in claim 27 further comprising
a tensioning device for presetting a rotational position of the
swivel lever in a nominal position and returning the swivel lever
to the nominal position from the safety position.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application is National Stage filing of
International Application No. PCT/EP2006/012363, filed on Dec. 21,
2006, titled "Headrest, Especially for a Motor Vehicle" which
claims priority to German Patent Application No. DE 10 2006 001
143.0, filed Jan. 6, 2006, the entire disclosures of which are
incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND
[0002] The present disclosure relates to a head restraint for a
seat, and more specifically to a displaceable head restraint for
use in a vehicle seat.
[0003] A head restraint for a vehicle, such as a motor vehicle,
includes a padded portion and a base interconnecting the padded
portion with a seatback. The head restraint may be displaceable as
a result of an external force, such as due to a collision. An
example of a displaceable head restraint is illustrated in German
patent application DE 102 15 137 A1. This head restraint includes a
base part connected to the backrest via holding rods and a padded
sub-section which may be displaced relative thereto in the forward
direction (X-direction of the vehicle) toward the head of the seat
occupant. The displacement of the sub-section takes place as a
result of a force releasing a locking device via a driving
mechanism. A probe may be inserted from the rear face of the base
part in the direction of the sub-section, and the sub-section may
be returned from its safety position to its normal operating
position. The probe generates a force which acts counter to the
direction of movement of the sub-section.
[0004] While this type of head restraint works, it requires a
specific tool to return the head restraint to a nominal operating
position and the tool must always be available. Otherwise, a
vehicle which is still roadworthy after an accident would require
servicing to return the head restraint from the safety position, to
the nominal operating position.
[0005] Thus there is a need in the art for a head restraint which
may be moved from a safety position to a nominal operating position
without the use of a tool.
SUMMARY
[0006] Accordingly, the present disclosure relates to a
displaceable head restraint for a vehicle. The head restraint
includes a padded portion that is displaceable relative to a base
part of the head restraint from a nominal position to a safety
position using a driving mechanism and returnable to the nominal
position using a restoring device. The restoring device includes a
handle releasably connected to a receiver plate, and the receiver
plate is positioned on a fixed portion of the base part. A cable
having one end attached to the handle and an opposed end connected
to a rotatable member is disposed between the padded portion and
the base part. Application of a force on the handle that is opposed
to a direction of displacement of the padded portion between the
nominal position and the safety position, rotates the rotatable
member to return the padded portion to the nominal position.
[0007] Other features and advantages of the present disclosure will
be readily appreciated, as the same becomes better understood in
view of the subsequent description taken in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 is a side view of a motor vehicle seat having a head
restraint according to the disclosure.
[0009] FIG. 2a is a perspective view of the driving mechanism for
the head restraint of FIG. 1 in the operating position, according
to the disclosure.
[0010] FIG. 2b is a perspective view of the driving mechanism of
FIG. 2A in the safety position of the head restraint, according to
the disclosure.
[0011] FIG. 3 is a rear view of another example of a head restraint
according to the disclosure.
[0012] FIG. 4a is a plan view showing the restoring device for the
head restraint of FIG. 3 in a first position.
[0013] FIG. 4b is a plan view showing the restoring device for the
head restraint of FIG. 3 in a second position.
[0014] FIG. 4c is a plan view showing the restoring device for the
head restraint of FIG. 3 in a third position.
DESCRIPTION
[0015] Referring to FIG. 1, a vehicle seat 1 includes a seat part 2
and a backrest 3 having a head restraint 5. The head restraint 5 is
connected via holding rods 4 to the backrest 3. In this example,
the head restraint 5 is height-adjustable. The head restraint 5
includes a base part 6 connected to the holding rods 4, and a
padded sub-section 8. The padded sub-section 8 may be displaced
from an operating position, as shown at 8a in the direction of the
head of a seat occupant, into a safety position as shown at 8b
using a driving mechanism 7. An example of a driving mechanism is
described in commonly assigned patent specification DE 10 2004 016
474 B3.
[0016] Referring to FIG. 2, the driving mechanism 7 include a first
member 9 fixedly connected to the base part 6 and a second member
10 that is displaceable with respect to the first fixed member. The
second displaceable member is connected to the padded sub-section
8. The second displaceable member 10 may be displaceably mounted on
the first fixed member 9 via a sliding guide 15 which is
displaceable in the direction of arrow A. A third rotatable member
11 may be rotatably mounted between the first fixed member 9 and a
second displaceable member 10. For example, the third rotatable
member 11 may include a guide slot, as shown at area 12, 12' for
supporting the third rotatable member 11. In this example, two
guide slots 12, 12' are inclined relative to the sliding direction
A. The effective areas of the guide slots 12, 12' thus exert, in
both rotational directions of the third rotatable member 11, a
forward or reverse sliding force on the first and second members 9,
10. The third rotatable member 11 rotates about a rotational axis
as shown at 13 in a direction of arrow B extending in the sliding
direction of arrow A, after release of a locking device (not
shown). The second displaceable member 10 is displaced to the front
toward the head of the seat occupant as shown in FIG. 2B. For
example, a prestressed spring 14 displaces the second displaceable
member 10.
[0017] The driving mechanism 7 also includes a restoring device 16
for returning the second displaceable member 12 to a nominal
position 8a from a displaced position 8b. The restoring device
includes a handle 18 releasably arranged on a receiver plate 17.
The receiver plate 17 is positioned on the first fixed member 9. In
this example, a cable 19 may be operatively connected between the
handle 18 and third rotatable member 11. An example of a cable is a
Bowden cable, and the cable is attached to the handle using a screw
connection. Also in this example, a wire portion 20 of the cable 19
is in contact tangentially with an outer surface of the third
rotatable member 11. The cable wire 20 is displaced from the
sheathing 21 of the cable 19 by rotation of the third rotatable
member 11. The handle 18 is displaced with respect to the receiver
plate 17. For example, the handle 18 is displaced transversely to
the movement of the second displaceable member 10 as shown by arrow
C in FIG. 2b. During displacement of the handle 18, a retractable
engagement portion projecting from the handle 18 may not yet be
engaged by the receiver plate 17. To move the head restraint 4 back
into the nominal position 8a, the handle 18 is engaged with the
receiver 17 and displaced using a lateral displacement force in the
direction of arrow D. The lateral displacement force is transmitted
by the cable 19 to the third rotatable member 11, to rotate the
third rotatable member back into its initial position, as shown in
FIG. 2A, and the locking device reengages. Concurrently, the second
displaceable member 10 and the padded sub-section 8 are also
returned back into the nominal position 8a.
[0018] In the example of a head restraint illustrated in FIGS. 3
and 4, the first fixed member 9 is connected to the head restraint
base. A swivel lever 23 is connected to a rear face 22 of the first
fixed member 9. The swivel lever 23 may rotate independently of the
third rotatable member 11 about the same rotational axis 13. An arm
portion 24 of the swivel lever 23 extends radially from the
rotational axis 13. Each end of the arm 24 may have a pin 25
projecting perpendicular, which projects into the driving mechanism
7, and cooperates with the third rotatable member 11. In this
example, the rotational position of the swivel lever 23 may be
preset using a tensioned spring 26 in the direction of an end
position as shown in FIG. 4A. Upon release of the head restraint 5,
such as due to a force, the third rotatable member 11 does not
transmit its movement to the swivel lever 23 but only comes into
contact with the pin 25 as shown in FIG. 4b for a safety position
of the head restraint 5. When the head restraint 5 is displaced, no
additional masses are accelerated, which might delay a movement
into the safety position. A torque transmitting device, such as a
socket 27, or wrench 28, may be used to exert a restoring torque on
the swivel lever 23 along the axis 13 in the direction of arrow F
as shown in FIG. 4c. This rotational movement applies a tension to
the spring 26, that is transmitted by the pin 25, to the third
rotational member 11 in the direction arrow E. Once the second
displaceable member 10 returns to its initial position, the tool 28
is removed. The spring 26 causes the swivel lever 23 to rotate back
to its initial position as shown in FIG. 4A.
[0019] The present disclosure has been described as an illustrative
manner. It is to be understood that the terminology which has been
used is intended to be in the nature of words of description rather
than of limitation.
[0020] Many modifications and variations of the present disclosure
are possible in light of the above teachings. Therefore, the
present disclosure may be practiced other than as specifically
described.
* * * * *